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Counter Act - Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats

CounterACT News Alerts

3rd Annual CounterACT Network Research Symposium
Tuesday April 14th - Thursday April 16, 2009
Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert Street NW (at Connecticut Ave.), Washington, D.C. 20008

Medical Chemistry Services for Neurotherapeutics: Request for Information (RFI NS-08-024) [Summary]
Response Due By: November 26, 2008
Announcement Number:  NOT-NS-08-024
Contact: Annette Carter

Supplemental research currently supported by the 2008 CounterACT Administrative Supplement Program
Behavioral Effects of Low Doses of Nerve Agents Are Counteracted by Galantamine: Potential Molecular Mechanisms (Edson Albuquerque)
Scorpion Toxin Antagonists (William Catterall)
Development of BAPTA-AM as a Counteract Agent (Robert DeLorenzo)
Phage Display Screening for Antibody Ligands to Sulfur Mustard Protein Adducts (Gary Grotendorst)
Polymer Nanogel Aggregates for Targeted Lung Delivery (Jeff Laskin & Pat Sinko)
Exogenous Reactivators and Chemical Modifications of Designed Nerve Agent Hydrolyzing Human Carboxylesterase 1 Enzymes (Matthew Redinbo)
Enhancing the Efficacy of Butyrylcholinesterase as a Plasma Scavenging Agent (Palmer Taylor)
Catalytic Antioxidants for Chlorine Gas Lung Toxicity (Carl White)

(Please contact PI directly for additional information about these efforts). 

Most Recent CounterACT Publications

Fawcett WP, Aracava Y, Adler M, Pereira EF, Albuquerque EX. (2008) Acute toxicity of organophosphorus compounds in guinea pigs is sex and age dependent and cannot be solely accounted by acetycholinesterase inhibition. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. [Epub ahead of print]  Abstract

Li H, Ricordel I, Tong L, Schopfer LM, Baud F, Megarbane B, Maury E, Masson P, Lockridge O. (2008) Carbofuran poisoning detected by mass spectrometry of butyrylcholinesterase adduct in human serum. J Appl Toxicol. [Epub ahead of print]  Abstract

Gerecke DR, Chen M, Isukapalli SS, Gordon MK, Chang YC, Tong W, Androulakis IP, Georgopoulos PG. (2008) Differential gene expression profiling of mouse skin after sulfur mustard exposure: Extended time response and inhibitor effect. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. [Epub ahead of print]  Abstract

2007 ; 2008 

NIH Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Research Network

The increased risk of a terrorist attack in the United States involving chemical agents has created new challenges for many departments and agencies across the federal government. Within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the NIH is taking a leadership role in pursuing the development of new and improved medical countermeasures designed to prevent, diagnose, and treat the conditions caused by potential and existing chemical agents of terrorism. In addition, many of the same chemicals posing a threat as terrorist agents may also be released from transportation and storage facilities by industrial accidents or during a natural disaster. The NIH has developed a comprehensive CounterACT Research Network that includes Research Centers of Excellence, individual research projects, SBIRs, contracts and other programs. The CounterACT network will conduct basic, translational, and clinical research aimed at the discovery and/or identification of better therapeutic and diagnostic medical countermeasures against chemical threat agents, and their movement through the regulatory process. The overarching goal of this research program is to enhance our diagnostic and treatment response capabilities during an emergency. This program is a trans NIH effort, involving participation from the National Eye Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Higher Priority Chemical Threats

  • Neurotoxic agents such as organophosphorus nerve "gases"
  • Vesicating agents such as sulfur mustard
  • Pulmonary agents such as chlorine gas
  • Metabolic/Cellular poisons such as cyanide

Scope of Research

  • Mechanistic research to identify targets for therapeutic/diagnostic development
  • Development of in vitro and animal models for efficacy screening of therapeutics and diagnostic tools
  • Efficacy screening of therapeutics/diagnostics using new and validated in vitro and animal models that are appropriate
  • Advanced efficacy studies with appropriate animal models including non-human primates using current Good Laboratory Practices (cGLP)
  • Clinical studies, including trials, when appropriate

Special consideration will be given to research relevant to people who are particularly vulnerable, including the young, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.

Contact Information

David A. Jett, Ph.D.
Program Director
National Institutes of Health, NINDS
6001 Executive Blvd.
NSC, Room 2177, MSC 9535
Bethesda, MD  20892-9535
Phone: 301-496-6035
jettd@ninds.nih.gov

Stacey D. Chambers
Program Analyst
National Institute of Health, NINDS
6001 Executive Blvd.
NSC, Room 2172, MSC 9521
Bethesda, MD  20892-9521
Phone: 301-496-0690
Fax: 301-402-1501
chambers@ninds.nih.gov

David T. Yeung, Ph.D.
Program Specialist
Contractor at NIH/NINDS
6001 Executive Blvd.
NSC, Room 2195, MSC 9527
Bethesda, MD 20892-9527
Tel: 301-443-7534
yeungd@ninds.nih.gov

 

 

Last updated November 20, 2008